Neverwhere is superb. I was actually reading it whilst on the London Underground this morning and got to the bit where "Earl's Court' comes into the story and then they mentioned "Ravenscourt" just as I actually passed through "Ravenscourt Park" station!

The smoke wafted gently in the breeze across the poop deck and all seemed right in the world.

I read American Gods a couple of days ago. It's a really good book and struck me as a 'serious' version of Small Gods by Terry Pratchett, there are some very similar themes and ideas. I understand how they were such a good team doing Good Omens now.

I'm going to have to buy more Neil Gaiman stuff when I've finished reading Hiaasen. Your fault Roy, I started them and now I keep buying more of them

That seems to point up a significant difference between Europeans and Americans. A European says: "I can't understand this, what's wrong with me?" An American says: "I can't understand this, what's wrong with him? - Sir Terry Pratchett

The great thing about Beaker is his ability to provoke while still being decorous, or at least within acceptable rules of conduct - Qwertyuiopasd

Just finished "the curious case of the dog in the night-time"Fascinating window onto (and into) the mind of an autistic "savant" whose view of the world is dominated by maths and weird ritualsAnd I'm trying to finish "The Cosmic Blueprint" by Paul Davies.. but it's not easy!

What’s this shitty place? I’m off to another Kali Yuga! BrahmaAre we a butterfly’s dream or is the butterfly our dream - and who really gives a toss? Lao TsuQuit hassling me, you sicko! JobWhat? You gonna waste all of ‘em? Even the falafel sellers?Lot Ya mean I gotta honour them fuckers that dumped me in the Nile!? MosesWHERE THE HELL DID I PARK MY DAMN KARMA!ShakeYerMuni BuddhaDon’t step on my blue-suede sandals! Blue blue blue-suede sandals!Ol’ J CYou what Gabe!? Not even a wee sausage after Ramadan?MohamOh shit! It’s gonna be one of them bad-vibe incarnations! Dalai L

Hells Angels, Hunter S. Thompson. Trying to get into character for a bit of writing...

"I don't mean to sound bitter, cynical or cruel; but I am, so that's how it comes out." ~ Bill Hicks."To argue with a person who has renounced reason is like administering medicine to the dead." ~ Thomas Paine."One should not believe everything one reads on the internet." ~ Abraham Lincoln."If you're making a political point wearing a balaclava, you're a c***. It was true for the IRA and it's true now." ~ daftbeaker.

"You bypassed the Maginot line of logic and rationality and annexed the Sudetenland of irrational comparisons!"-Unattrib

"We live in a world where John Lennon was murdered, yet Barry Manilow continues to put out fucking albums. God-dammit! If you're gonna kill somebody, have some fucking taste. I'll drive you to Kenny Rogers' house."-Bill Hicks

Almost done with book 2 of the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks. Very enjoyable.

"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."("Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain.")-- Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805)Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.-- Philip K DickOK, now let's look at four dimensions on the blackboard.-- Dr. JoyEnglish isn't much of a language for swearing. When I studied Ancient Greek I was delighted to discover a single word - Rhaphanidosthai - which translates roughly as "Be thou thrust up the fundament with a radish for adultery."

ET, the Extra Terrestrial wrote:Almost done with book 2 of the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks. Very enjoyable.

I liked those fine, but I remember them falling into the current trend of fantasy books with Rocky syndrome. The first book/movie has all of the invention and ingenuity, and the rest just follow normal fantasy story-arcs without adding anything unexpected, unique, or exciting. In other words there's not enough there to justify an entire series. There's a reason Rocky won oscars and acclaim, while it's sequels were just predictable action nonsense. The Night Angel sequels aren't bad, but they also aren't special.

There are a few series out there where the books keep getting better, and those are the ones I really look forward to. Kingkiller Chronicles, Dresden Files, Song of Ice and Fire... I have very high hopes of adding The Stormlight Archive to that list when book 2 hits.

I believe it's time for mankind to set aside the crutch of religion and embrace morality born of reason and truth. Those crutches have long since proven treacherous when the ground gets slippery.

Check out the Night's Dawn series by Peter F. Hamilton. SciFi rather than fantasy, but VERY good. Also the Pandora's Star/Judas Unchained duology by the same author. I may have recommended them before in here. Really good stuff.

"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."("Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain.")-- Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805)Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.-- Philip K DickOK, now let's look at four dimensions on the blackboard.-- Dr. JoyEnglish isn't much of a language for swearing. When I studied Ancient Greek I was delighted to discover a single word - Rhaphanidosthai - which translates roughly as "Be thou thrust up the fundament with a radish for adultery."

"I don't mean to sound bitter, cynical or cruel; but I am, so that's how it comes out." ~ Bill Hicks."To argue with a person who has renounced reason is like administering medicine to the dead." ~ Thomas Paine."One should not believe everything one reads on the internet." ~ Abraham Lincoln."If you're making a political point wearing a balaclava, you're a c***. It was true for the IRA and it's true now." ~ daftbeaker.